Saku Mäenalanen

Saku Mäenalanen (born 29 May 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the SCL Tigers of the National League (NL). Mäenalanen was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 2013 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Mäenalanen played junior hockey within the Oulun Kärpät organization. Following his selection in the NHL draft by the Predators, he made his professional debut in the Liiga with Oulun Kärpät during the 2013–14 season.

Unsigned by the Nashville Predators, Mäenalanen continued in the Liiga with Oulun Kärpät, also enduring a shortened loan stint with fellow Liiga club, Lahti Pelicans in the 2014–15 season.

In the 2017–18 season, Mäenalanen enjoyed a breakout season totaling 17 goals and 46 points in 59 games, ranking 11th among scorers in Liiga. He added 10 points postseason, helping Oulun capture the league championship. On 18 May 2018, Mäenalanen gained NHL interest and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. In signing with the Hurricanes, he was reunited with former Finnish junior teammate, Sebastian Aho.

Mäenalanen began the 2018–19 season with the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He was recalled to the NHL on 6 December after playing in 23 games and recording 11 points for the Checkers. He made his NHL debut the following day in a 4–1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. He recorded his first NHL goal on 8 January in a 4–3 win over the New York Islanders.

As a restricted free agent after his first North American season, Mäenalanen could not agree to terms with the Hurricanes on a new contract. With his rights still held by the Hurricanes, Mäenalanen opted to return to his native Finland to resume his career in the KHL. He agreed to an optional two-year contract with Jokerit on 25 September 2019.

After two seasons with Jokerit, Mäenalanen returned to his original Finnish club, Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga, agreeing to a three-year contract on 11 June 2021. In his first season back with Kärpät in 2021–22, Mäenalanen led the team in scoring with 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points in 47 games.

On 19 July 2022, Mäenalanen enacted an NHL opt-out clause in the off-season by signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Mäenalanen successfully made the Jets opening night roster out of training camp to open the season. Used predominately in a fourth-line defensive forward role, Mäenalanen appeared in an NHL career best 64 regular season games and added 4 goals and 10 points. He contributed with 1 assist through 5 playoff games in a first-round defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights.

As a free agent from the Jets in the following off-season, Mäenalanen was unable to secure an NHL contract over the summer. He was later signed to a professional tryout contract by the Colorado Avalanche, however failed the physical at training camp and was subsequently released on 20 September 2023.

The following day from his release, Mäenalanen returned to continue his career in Europe, agreeing to a three-year contract with Swiss club, SCL Tigers of the NL, on 21 September 2023.

International play

Maenalanen made his senior debut for Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. In a fifth-place finish, he posted two goals and three assists in 8 contests.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2010–11 Kiekko–Laser FIN.3 U18 Q 8 14 12 26 10 — — — — — 2010–11 Kiekko–Laser FIN.3 U18 18 13 26 39 10 — — — — — 2010–11 Kärpät FIN U18 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2011–12 Kärpät FIN U18 Q 12 2 7 9 36 — — — — — 2011–12 Kärpät FIN U18 32 13 29 42 40 9 7 3 10 2 2012–13 Kärpät Jr. A 45 23 35 58 43 5 5 2 7 18 2013–14 Kärpät Jr. A 5 3 3 6 2 12 4 4 8 10 2013–14 Kärpät Liiga 25 4 3 7 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Jokipojat Mestis 15 9 6 15 4 — — — — — 2014–15 Kärpät Jr. A 6 2 6 8 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Kärpät Liiga 20 4 1 5 2 7 0 1 1 0 2014–15 Pelicans Liiga 8 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2014–15 Hokki Mestis 17 5 8 13 6 10 2 4 6 22 2015–16 Kärpät Liiga 46 6 10 16 14 13 3 1 4 6 2016–17 Kärpät Liiga 34 11 10 21 6 2 0 0 0 0 2017–18 Kärpät Liiga 59 17 29 46 26 18 5 5 10 16 2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 31 7 7 14 8 — — — — — 2018–19 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 34 4 4 8 20 9 0 1 1 6 2019–20 Jokerit KHL 26 5 4 9 8 6 2 3 5 6 2020–21 Jokerit KHL 38 4 8 12 48 4 0 0 0 0 2021–22 Kärpät Liiga 47 13 28 41 67 7 1 0 1 4 2022–23 Winnipeg Jets NHL 64 4 6 10 16 5 0 1 1 12 2023–24 SCL Tigers NL 44 11 9 20 40 — — — — — 2024–25 SCL Tigers NL 27 8 10 18 14 9 1 5 6 4 2025–26 SCL Tigers NL 47 9 21 30 43 — — — — — Liiga totals 239 56 81 137 115 47 9 7 16 26 NHL totals 98 8 10 18 36 14 0 2 2 18 KHL totals 64 9 12 21 56 10 2 3 5 6

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2014 Finland WJC 7 7 4 11 0 2018 Finland WC 5th 8 2 1 3 8 2021 Finland WC 10 1 3 4 0 2022 Finland OG 6 0 1 1 2 2022 Finland WC 9 2 0 2 29 2024 Finland WC 8th 7 1 1 2 2 2026 Finland WC 10 3 2 5 2 Junior totals 7 7 4 11 0 Senior totals 50 9 8 17 43

Awards and honours Award Year Jr. A SM-liiga All-Star Team 2012–13 Liiga Kanada-malja (Oulun Kärpät) 2018